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Hello,I need help choosing a stage piano. I own a Nord Electro 4d, which I love. I want to add a second fully weighted keyboard. I need it to be very lightweight and portable, I move by public transportation. Are there any 73 or 76 keys piano action keyboards? I've seen Electro HP (which would be redundant) and Korg SV1. I play mainly jazz and funk, so I need good pianos and good electric pianos, with tweakable ffects. My budget is around 1000-1500€. I don't need a 88 key DP, I own one.

I have a Korg SV1 73 key I'm very satisfied with it. The electric piano sounds are some of the best I ever played. The acoustic piano sounds are very useable. Its a bit on the heavy side when compared to something like the CASIO PX-5S but being 73 keys its not bad because being smaller its not as awkward to carry. I'm 55 yrs old and I have no qualms about carrying it. The only other option I see in your price range is maybe the Roland RD-64

All the other 73 & 76 key options I know of are either way out of your price range or Semi-Weighted.

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A long long time ago, I can still rememberHow that music used to make me smile....

For your needs, deypo, I think if I were still gigging in NYC and had to ride the subway, there is only one quality keyboard I would get: the Roland RD-64.

It does weigh 28 lbs, and there are lighter 88-key pianos (Casio, and especially Numa Compact at under 14 lbs). But I think size is as important as weight, and the Roland is only 44 inches long and less than 5 inches deep.

You'd be surprised how easy it is to get along with only 64 keys. I've never heard any player complain about the RD-64.

Thanks for the replies,I've seen the privia px-5s I gonna try it. It seems a very good stage piano, a 73 key version would be awesome but I think I could deal with 88 keys with its light weight. I've read bad comments about Korg SV1: note cutting off too soon, key problems... Have you experimented any of those things? About the Roland RD-64 I'm not sure if 64 are enough keys for me, I'll take a look at it.

Thanks for the replies,I've seen the privia px-5s I gonna try it. It seems a very good stage piano, a 73 key version would be awesome but I think I could deal with 88 keys with its light weight. I've read bad comments about Korg SV1: note cutting off too soon, key problems... Have you experimented any of those things? About the Roland RD-64 I'm not sure if 64 are enough keys for me, I'll take a look at it.

I would jump to suggest the PX-5S despite the 88 keys. Having heard from others how light weight it is I would only add that - despite having 88 keys - Casio kept the length down compared to many other 88-key boards by putting mod/port wheels above, not on the side of the keybed.

This little lightweight beast not only has fantastic sounds and features (MIDI controller extraordinaire) but it is really designed for trudging through the world on your way to a gig.

The sounds will win you over as there's nothing quite like it at this price point - and for your purposes, the form factor will likely win you over too.

- OneWatt

ps - The other bonus is you get is Mike Martin/Casio for support (see: YouTube) and a Casio-hosted forum with great exchange. This is a first class effort in every respect.

Can anyone also help out with suggestions for an 88 key weighted one? I have a Korg Kross and want to get a weighted 88 key I'd like to stay under $1800. I don't need a ton of sounds but I would like to stick with a synth.

Also I'm new to the site so please advise if it's best to post questions as new threads or in related threads like this. Thanks!

Can anyone also help out with suggestions for an 88 key weighted one? I have a Korg Kross and want to get a weighted 88 key I'd like to stay under $1800. I don't need a ton of sounds but I would like to stick with a synth.

Also I'm new to the site so please advise if it's best to post questions as new threads or in related threads like this. Thanks!

Sorry if I'm sounding a bit like a broken record here, but the Casio PX-5S described above has 88 piano-weighted keys. While its main selling feature is not that its a synthesizer, it actually boasts some surprisingly strong synthesis capabilities (not as strong as its sibling the XW series but respectable by most standards). Check out Casio's website and Mike Martin's Youtube'ry.

(No affiliation with Casio - but owned a PX-5S and was delighted with it.)

Thanks all! I was just checking out the Casio PX-5S as suggested. Seems perfect and the price is less than I thought it would be. I'm sure it has plenty of sounds and at that price I would most likely keep my Kross. My main need is to have the feel of acoustic. I assume the PX-5S has the same size and feel of acoustic keys? What is the benefit of jumping up into the categories of Nord, Krome, etc. is it just they more bell sand whistles?

Thanks all! I was just checking out the Casio PX-5S as suggested. Seems perfect and the price is less than I thought it would be. I'm sure it has plenty of sounds and at that price I would most likely keep my Kross. My main need is to have the feel of acoustic. I assume the PX-5S has the same size and feel of acoustic keys? What is the benefit of jumping up into the categories of Nord, Krome, etc. is it just they more bell sand whistles?

The "piano-like" feel on this model is remarkably good for a keyboard in this price range.

Casio was a trail-blazer decades ago in the music keyboard field and then lost its mojo and got a reputation for making musical toys. One might imagine they are clawing their way back to respectability with offerings like the PX-5S, and perhaps trying to "buy back" share with surprisingly low pricing (at least for now).

Originally Posted By Sebs

I was reading the manual seems to only have 2 pedal inputs that can only be sustain. Is this true? No switch or expression input?

You are 100% correct. The PX-5S lacks an expression pedal input. According to those who require one, this is regarded as a glaring mistake. For others the omission is not such an issue (there are other ways to accomplish many of the things an expression pedal can typically be used for). But to be clear, if expression pedal is a must for you, look elsewhere.

Casio was a trail-blazer decades ago in the music keyboard field and then lost its mojo and got a reputation for making musical toys. One might imagine they are clawing their way back to respectability with offerings like the PX-5S, and perhaps trying to "buy back" share with surprisingly low pricing (at least for now).

Spot on - when I think Casio I always seem to associate them as lower end or toys. However, they do seem to be great products from what I hear and read.

Originally Posted By Sebs

I was reading the manual seems to only have 2 pedal inputs that can only be sustain. Is this true? No switch or expression input?

You are 100% correct. The PX-5S lacks an expression pedal input. According to those who require one, this is regarded as a glaring mistake. For others the omission is not such an issue (there are other ways to accomplish many of the things an expression pedal can typically be used for). But to be clear, if expression pedal is a must for you, look elsewhere. [/quote]

I can live without expression to save a bunch of money and try this PX - 5S out. Overall is Nord, Korg, etc. much more because the name and features? I know they great products but it doesn't seem to be worth paying an extra 1k for one in this situation, correct?

In the sub $2000 area that you're dabbling in, these are the units to look at. What do you get for breaking the $2k mark?. A lot. But mostly a lot of features you don't need to do a gig. You may get a better sound set and arguably better action in the Yamaha CP4 which is also very light. But outside your budget.

Nord Stage 2, way out of your budget. Light, but it's red and has killer organ sounds you don't need, particularly if you already have an Electro 4D. Kurzweil Forte or Korg Kronos.... Way out of your budget, not light, workstation features you don't need for a gig. But arguably the best tech and sounds available at the moment.

After more reading: "Pedal inputs on the PX-5S are also highly configurable and include Envelope Response. This allows an ordinary footswitch to control a parameter over time, allowing you to do volume swells, filter sweeps and control effects such as a wah-wah"

"... 2 footswitch inputs."

I thought it only had sustain/damper input. After reading this it sounds like it can have a couple swithes and effect very close to expression. I definitely think this one is by far the best option! Thanks you all for the advice!

Sebs, Yes, it can be configured to do more than just sustain. For example you can configure the sustain pedal to work like a wah pedal on the clav sounds. The big limitation of the sustain pedal on the PX-5S is that it doesn't offer half damping out of the box. There is a work around with the midi solutions pedal, but that's an extra expense and extra bit of gear to carry. Of course, if you don't need that effect, then it's not an issue.

A dark horse might be the Roland FA-08. Good action, ton of usable feature and sounds, and 36lbs for 1,799

That's a very good call! Of course the PX-5S is cheaper and lighter, and arguably has a better action (that's such a personal thing though, many would disagree), but the FA-08 has better sounds and has a lot of configurability. It might be just the ticket. It would definitely be worth looking into.

Roland fa-08 is a workstation? I think I don't need a workstation but I'm not sure. I use cubase when I want to write songs. I like full band music, so will I never use the benefits of a workstation? I'm prety sure I need a stage piano. I would love to have enoug money for yamaha cp4 or roland rd800... But they are out of my budget right now

Indeed, the Roland is a bit overkill, but not by much. It's full of classic roland sounds as well as some of the newer Super Natural stuff you see on their DPs, Jupiter-80, and such. You can just ignore the features you don't need at $1799. But yeah.... PX-5S, under $999 most places, I've seen it for $750 at times on sale here and there. Otherwise, I'd look a the CP-40 or the MP7.